Some released dogs found OK

Wednesday

Jun 25, 2008 at 12:01 AMJun 25, 2008 at 1:09 AM

Shortly after Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley released approximately 10 dogs from the city kennels and into the St. Francis National Forest, the National Forestry Service contacted a non-profit animal advocacy organization, Northeast Arkansans For Animals for help. The orginization and other came through, finding some of the lost animals.

Michele Page

Shortly after Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley released about 10 dogs from the city kennels and into the St. Francis National Forest, the National Forestry Service contacted a nonprofit animal advocacy organization, Northeast Arkansans For Animals, in hopes of finding the lost dogs. NAFA has recovered four of the animals after a NAFA recovery team spent many hours and days searching the forest for the surviving canines.

They began their efforts June 15 driving from Jonesboro and reported that a young shepherd mix was rescued and named Amelia after Amelia Earhart, the famous pilot that mysteriously disappeared. She is reported to be doing well with her adoptive family.

Amelia has been resting comfortably on the family Lazy Boy. She has been completely vetted, bathed, and hundreds of ticks removed," reports NAFA.

On June 20, two more dogs were retrieved and NAFA reported on their health condition.

Francis, a young, small black dog, is not as lucky as Amelia, says NAFA.

"It appears that Francis has been trying to take care of herself for a couple of weeks. She was literally being eaten alive with ticks. NAFA volunteers spent hours washing and brushing her before applying medicine. Francis is horribly anemic and malnourished. She also has what appears to be a bite or puncture wound on one of her legs. The good news is that the injury does not appear to have affected her bones. Francis remains hospitalized and is on IV fluids, antibiotics and continues with some testing for possible tick-born diseases," reported the organization.

Photographs of Francis are not being released until her health improves.

Wanda Turner, executive director of NAFA, gathered letters from citizens about the mayor's decision and took them to Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel.

"The mayor of Helena should be held accountable for his actions on Tuesday, June 10 when he recklessly and carelessly dumped dogs in the care of the City of Helena. The dogs had no choice and have no voice. We must be their voice. We must be their warriors. We must champion the cause so that no individual - especially an elected official - ever thinks the answer to any animal situation is to abandon the animal to fend for itself. It is a danger to society and a horrendous act of cruelty," stated Turner.

On June 22, NAFA continued their search of the forest and reports volunteers from The Humane Society of the Delta and the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society of Oxford, Miss. had joined them.

Using all-terrain vehicles and two trucks loaded with supplies, they grouped together using maps and formed a base camp. They were unlucky in their pursuit to reclaim the animals.

"However, a family arrived at the base camp with a white and tan male that they had rescued on Wednesday, June 11 shortly after the animals were dumped. An adorable and social pit bull named Scooter was very emaciated but a very happy dog. The family had taken him to the vet shortly after rescuing him. Scooter was found to be extremely malnourished, heartworm positive and suffering from a tick related disease. Scooter had made a great addition to this family and they are dedicated to seeing him well, heartworm treated and neutered," said Turner.

The team found another dog at a home on Storm Creek road and the animal was surrendered to NAFA.

"The young black scruffy dog was surrendered to NAFA and he is currently being housed at a volunteer's home in Jonesboro. The dog, who appears to be about 4 months of age was covered in fleas and ticks, suffered from slight anemia but was otherwise relatively healthy," reported the volunteers.

He is scheduled for a vet visit and is expected to do well.

NAFA offered their thanks to the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society and The Humane Society of the Delta "for their exceptional hard work and perseverance."

Expenses continue to grow and NAFA says they are asking for help with donations to cover medical bills, food, care and the multiple trips to the Helena-West Helena area. To send a donation mail contributions to NAFA, P. O. Box 10075, Jonesboro, AR 72403 or visit their Web site at www.nafacares.org and make a donation through paypal. For donations to the Humane Society of the Delta, visit www.humanesocietyofthedelta.homestead.com.